§ Bob RussellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what the approved number of places is at Chelmsford Prison; and how many prisoners are housed there; [86508]
231W(2) what proposals he has to provide additional prison places in Essex. [86509]
§ Hilary Benn[holding answer 9 December 2002]: There are no immediate plans to build a new prison in Essex, or to increase the number of prison places in existing prisons in the area. The Prison Service is continually reviewing its estate, and it may be that such plans are considered at a future date.
On 29 November 2002, the operational capacity of Chelmsford Prison was 576. On the same day, the total population at the prison was 567.